When Bentley introduced the Bentley Continental GT Supersports, it took the Continental GT to a new level. It was designed to be lighter, faster, and more driver-focused than any previous Bentley.
Our Supersports was first registered on 22nd September 2010, and is an extremely well-documented example of Bentley’s high-performance flagship of its time.
The Most Powerful Bentley of Its Time
At its launch, the Continental GT Supersports was the most powerful production Bentley ever built. Its 6-litre twin-turbocharged W12 produced a huge 621bhp and 800 Nm of torque.
Performance figures were pretty much insane for a luxury grand tourer weighing well over two tonnes. The Supersports could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in around 3.7 seconds and reach a top speed of around 204 mph, making it the fastest Bentley ever produced at the time.
Every Supersports was hand-built at the Bentley Motors Crewe Factory, where Bentley still builds its cars today. Production numbers remained relatively limited, with around 1,700 Supersports coupes produced worldwide, and only around 400 to 450 examples supplied to the UK.
Engineering the Supersports
The Supersports was not just a more powerful Continental GT. Bentley engineers made several changes to improve the car’s performance and handling.
The Supersports was 110kg lighter than the standard Continental GT, had improved suspension and chassis setup, a recalibrated all-wheel-drive system with a 40:60 rear-biased torque split, and 420mm carbon-ceramic front brakes.
Interestingly, the car was also the first Bentley able to run on E85 biofuel. This was to show the company’s interest in alternative fuel compatibility at the time.
Factory Specification
Our 2010 Bentley Continental GT Supersports is finished in Ice Silver Metallic.
Inside, the cabin has Beluga leather with Alcantara inserts, complemented by the Supersports carbon fibre interior trim. Unlike traditional Bentley models that featured wood veneers, the Supersports had carbon fibre throughout the dashboard and centre console, giving the interior a more sporty and modern feel.
This car also had the optional Mulliner Driving Specification. This was Bentley’s premium interior upgrade package and included diamond-quilted leather seat centres, quilted leather door panels, contrast stitching, and aluminium sports pedals.
A Rare Rear Seat Supersports
Another interesting feature of this car is its 2+2 seating configuration.
When the Supersports was first launched, Bentley removed the rear seats entirely in order to reduce weight and highlight the model’s performance focus. However, buyers were given the option to reintroduce the rear seats, effectively restoring the car’s practicality as a grand tourer.
Only around 35%-40% of Supersports coupes were specified with rear seats, making this configuration a relatively uncommon choice.
Early Ownership in Berkshire
The documentation in the car’s history file provides quite a bit of insight into its early life. Service records show that the car was maintained by Bentley Berkshire Pangbourne, part of the H.R. Owen network.
A service invoice dated June 2014, when the car had covered 39,895 miles, records the completion of its four-year scheduled service. Work carried out included routine servicing, oil and filter replacement, plenum chamber cleaning and an air conditioning service.
During the same visit, a front wheel bearing and air temperature sensor were also replaced. The history file also indicates the car spent its early life in Berkshire, with its first recorded owner based near Hungerford.
Inspection and Later History
Further documentation includes a 128-point inspection carried out by the AA in November 2017, at which point the car had covered around 79,000 miles.
The inspection recorded only minor issues typical for a car of this age and mileage, including slight brake noise, ageing rear tyres and a small interior switch fault. Brake testing documentation from 2018 showed strong performance from the braking system.
At around this time, the car appears to have passed through British Car Auctions, a pretty common route for high-value vehicles moving between owners and dealerships.
A Grand Tourer That Was Actually Used
Many Supersports examples spent a lot of their lives as low-mileage collector cars. This car has a slightly different story, though.
In its early years, it was clearly used as Bentley intended, covering around 12,000 miles per year as a high-performance grand tourer. In later years, its usage appears to have slowed down quite considerably, suggesting a move into enthusiast ownership.
Today, the car shows around 86,700 miles, supported by a consistent record of servicing, inspections and documentation.
A Modern Bentley Classic
The Continental GT Supersports represents the ultimate development of the first-generation Continental platform. It combined immense performance with Bentley craftsmanship, and it helped pave the way for later high-performance models such as the Bentley Continental GT3-R.
As Bentley gradually moves away from the W12 engine, cars like the Supersports are increasingly recognised as an important part of the brand’s modern history.
You can win our 2010 Bentley Continental GT Supersports for £15
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